HIV Testing

HIV testing is available for you at CUPHD. The test is done in a private office. At your testing appointment, we will discuss your risks for becoming infected with HIV and we will work with you to come up with your own personalized HIV prevention plan. After the test, we will set up another appointment with you so that you can come in for your results.

There are various ways of testing for HIV. You can be tested with an oral test or a blood test. In the oral test (Orasure), a small cotton pad is placed between your lower teeth and your cheek for four minutes. The pad picks up some cells from your mouth. This is a painless process. Or you can opt to have a blood test. In this test, blood is taken from your arm for testing. Both of these tests are then sent to the state lab for processing. It takes about two weeks for us to get your result back from the lab.

You can also receive Rapid HIV Testing at CUPHD. This type of HIV test is designed to give you initial results within 20 minutes. We can do Rapid HIV testing with an oral swab or a finger prick. All HIV testing at CUPHD is safe and accurate.

All of our HIV testing is completely confidential. Your test record and results are protected by CUPHD policy and state law. Another person cannot see your test record or result without written permission from you. Illinois law now requires that those agencies conducting confidential HIV tests must report the names of those who test positive to the state health department. This information is CONFIDENTIAL. No one who works for public health or for the state is allowed to disclose your HIV status without your written permission. Your privacy is protected by law.

Name-Based Reporting in Illinois Frequently Asked Questions - aidschicago.org

We offer free partner notification services to anyone who tests positive for HIV. With the HIV positive person’s permission, we can help contact all sex and/or needle-sharing partners to let them know that they may have been exposed to HIV. See our Partner Notification Brochure for more information.